Divisible spud

ABSTRACT

A vessel includes a floating body ( 1 ), an excavating device ( 3 ) having a base member ( 4 ), an extendable arm member ( 5 ) which at one end thereof is coupled with the base member and an excavating element ( 6 ) mounted at the other end of the extendable arm member. The excavating device ( 3 ) is rotatably coupled with the floating body ( 1 ) for rotation of the excavating device in an excavator rotating area. Via an anchoring system coupled with the vessel for anchoring the floating body ( 1 ) and having a number of spuds ( 7, 8 ), the vessel may be anchored with respect to the bottom at the location to be excavated. At least one of the number of spuds ( 7 ) is a divisible spud including a plurality of spud sections ( 8 ) coupled end to end in series.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a vessel comprising:

-   -   a floating body,     -   an excavating device having a base member, an extendable arm         member which at one end thereof is coupled with the base member         and an excavating means mounted at the other end of the         extendable arm member, wherein the excavating device is         rotatably coupled with the floating body for rotation of the         excavating device in an excavator rotating area,     -   an anchoring system coupled with the vessel for anchoring the         floating body and having a number of spuds for engaging with the         bottom at the location to be excavated.

Such a vessel is known. The spuds are lowered onto the bottom before the excavating work is carried out. Subsequently, the spuds are lifted and the vessel is positioned at the next location for continuing the process of excavating. Depending on the depth of the bottom, the spuds extend to a greater or lesser degree above the floating body. This leads to problems while carrying out deck activities. In particular, the movements of the excavating device may be impaired by the upwardly protruding parts of the spuds.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,682 A relates to a floating platform provided with a dredging apparatus using a clamshell attached to a rigid boom to dig and remove material. The position of the floating platform is controlled by spuds. These spuds limit arrangement and movement of the dredging apparatus with respect to the floating platform.

Likewise, DE 1484 718 relates to a dredging vessel of the type in which a crane is mounted on the vessel, which is provided with one or more spud piles to retain the dredging vessel in its place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims at providing a solution for the above mentioned problem. Said aim is achieved in that at least one of the number of spuds is a divisible spud comprises a plurality of spud sections coupled end to end in series. The divisible spud or spuds each consist of at least two spud sections which together form the spud. The total length of the spud is thus maintained, in such a way that the vessel can still be anchored in the bottom. The spud is thus lowered on the bottom, and depending on the depth of the water a certain part of the spud remains extending above the floating body. However, by removing the upper spud section the extent to which the spud projects above the floating body may now be reduced. Thus, the space above the floating body can be held free from obstacles, which is an advantage when carrying out activities on deck with the excavating device, or other activities such as lifting and deposing spud sections. It will be clear that the number of spuds for engaging with the bottom at the location to be excavated must be suitable for and engage the bottom such that considerable excavating forces can be accommodated and withstand by the number of spuds.

Preferably, coupling means are provided for uncoupling respectively coupling adjacent spud sections with respect to each other. Such coupling means may be carried out in several ways; preferably, the coupling means comprise respective flanges at the facing ends of adjacent spud sections and clamping members which each encompass the respective flanges at the facing ends of adjacent spud sections for clamping the adjacent spud sections. Said flanges and clamping members are provided along a substantial portion of the circumference of the abutting spud sections.

The spud may be carried out with several cross sectional shapes; preferably, the spud has a rectangular or square cross section, the respective flanges and clamping members being arranged on at least two opposite sides, preferably on the four sides of the rectangle or square. In order to facilitate the process of connecting the spud parts onto each other, the coupling means may comprise alignment parts for aligning adjacent spud sections with respect to each other, such as a pin and hole alignment. The spud sections may have end walls at opposite ends; in this case, the coupling means and/or the alignment parts may be associated with the end walls.

As mentioned before, the possibility to dismount spud sections offers the advantage of a largely unobstructed space or area above the floating body. This circumstance can be fruitfully applied in an embodiment wherein the at least one divisible spud and the excavating device are mutually arranged such that the longitudinal spud axis of the at least one divisible spud crosses or intersects the excavator rotating area.

In order to simplify the mounting/dismounting of the spud sections, a tilting mechanism may be provided which cooperates with a divisible spud, said tilting mechanism being carried out for tilting a spud section between an active position in alignment with the spud axis and a rest position generally transverse with respect to the spud axis. In use, the at least one divisible spud extends towards the bottom from below the excavating device.

Preferably, the spuds are displaceable in upward and downward direction with respect to the floating body. However, it is also possible to use spuds which are tiltably arranged with respect to the floating body.

Reference is made to the vessel having a floating body provided with divisible spuds as disclosed in DE-B-1028902. Said prior art vessel lacks an excavating device on top of the floating body. Thus, the problem underlying the present invention, that is the obstacles as formed by the upwardly protruding studs, is not addressed in this publication. Instead, reference is made to stability problems which may arise as a result of spuds which extends to a fair degree above the floating body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further elucidated referring to an preferred embodiment shown in the drawing wherein shown in:

FIG. 1 shows a view in perspective of the vessel according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a view in perspective of the coupling area of a spud according to II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through the coupling area of a spud.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a coupling member.

FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section through the coupling area of a spud.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The vessel according to the invention as shown in FIG. 1 consists of the floating body 1, which in the usual way is provided with accommodations 2. At one end of the floating body 1, and excavating device 3 has been positioned. Said excavation device 3 consists of the rotatable housing or member 4 and the articulated arm 5 which carries a backhoe 6. Furthermore, at said end of the vessel the spuds 7 are arranged. Although two of said spuds 7 have been shown, other numbers are possible as well. For instance, at the opposite end of the vessel two further spuds may be arranged.

The spuds 7 each consists of several spud sections 8 which are connected to each other in series, end to end as shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2-5. Each spud section 8 has an upper end wall 9 and a lower end wall 10, as shown in the longitudinal section of FIG. 5. In the embodiment shown, the spud sections 8 have a square cross-section (see FIG. 3), the four sidewalls of which each are provided with coupling means 11. These coupling means 11 each comprise a series of clamping members 12 which are provided with hook shaped protrusions 13, as shown in the side view of FIG. 4.

Furthermore, each of the upper and lower end walls 9, 10 of the spud sections have flanges 14 respectively 15. The hook shaped protrusions 13 of the clamping members 12 can each be looked around said flanges 14, 15 of the upper and lower and walls 9, 10 so as to ensure a firm interconnection of the spud sections 8, end to end. In the mounted state, the clamping members 12 are held in place by means of the strip 16 the opposite ends of which are secured to the respective spud sections 8 by means of e.g. bolt connections 17.

The upper and lower end walls 9, 10 comprise an alignment pin 19 in the lower end wall 10 and a corresponding alignment aperture 20 in the upper end wall 9. Upon assembling the spud sections 8, this alignment pin 19 and alignment hold 20 ensure the proper positioning of the spud sections 8 with respect to each other, in such a way that the clamping members 12 can be properly arranged around the flanges 14, 15.

Upon lifting a spud 7, the subsequent spud sections 8 can be dismounted by removing the coupling means 11. Subsequently, the dismounted spud sections 8 are tilted towards a generally horizontal orientation by means of the tilting mechanisms 18. Next, the spud sections can be arranged on the deck of the floating body 1. Thus, the area above the deck of the floating body 1 remains generally free, which means that the articulated arm 5 of the excavating device 4 can be freely swung, also over the deck without being hampered by any obstacle.

It will also be obvious after the above description and drawings are included to illustrate some embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of protection. Starting from this disclosure, many more embodiments will be evident to a skilled person which are within the scope of protection and the essence of this invention and which are obvious combinations of prior art techniques and the disclosure of this patent. 

1-12. (canceled)
 13. Vessel, comprising: a floating body (1), an excavating device (3) having a base member (4), an extendable arm member (5) which at one end thereof is coupled with the base member and an excavating means (6) mounted at the other end of the extendable arm member, wherein the excavating device (3) is rotatably coupled with the floating body (1) for rotation of the excavating device in an excavator rotating area, an anchoring system coupled with the vessel for anchoring the floating body (1) and having a number of spuds (7, 8) for engaging with the bottom at the location to be excavated, wherein at least one of the number of spuds (7) is a divisible spud comprising a plurality of spud sections (8) coupled end to end in series.
 14. Vessel according to claim 13, wherein coupling means (11) are provided for uncoupling respectively coupling adjacent spud sections (8) with respect to each other.
 15. Vessel according to claim 14, wherein the coupling means (11) comprise: respective flanges (14, 15) at the facing ends of adjacent spud sections (8), clamping members (12, 13) which each encompass the respective flanges (14, 15) at the facing ends of adjacent spud sections (8) for clamping the adjacent spud sections.
 16. Vessel according to claim 15, wherein the flanges (14, 15) and the clamping members (12, 13) are provided along a substantial portion of the circumference of the spud sections (8).
 17. Vessel according to claim 15, wherein the spud (7) has a rectangular or square cross section, the respective flanges (14, 15) and clamping (12, 13) members being arranged on the four sides of the rectangle or square.
 18. Vessel according to claim 14, wherein the coupling means (11) comprise alignment parts for aligning adjacent spud sections with respect to each other, such as a pin (19) and hole (20) alignment.
 19. Vessel according to claim 18, wherein the spud sections have end walls (9, 10) at opposite ends.
 20. Vessel according to claim 19, wherein the coupling means (11) and/or the alignment parts (19, 20) are associated with the end walls (9, 10).
 21. Vessel according claim 13, wherein the at least one divisible spud (7, 8) and the excavating device (3) are mutually arranged such that the longitudinal spud axis of the at least one divisible spud crosses or intersects the excavator rotating area.
 22. Vessel according to claim 13, wherein a tilting mechanism (18) is provided which cooperates with a divisible spud (7, 8), said tilting mechanism being carried out for tilting a spud section between an active position transverse with respect to the floating body (1) and a rest position generally parallel to the floating body (1).
 23. Vessel according to claim 13, wherein the spuds are displaceable in upward and downward direction with respect to the floating body (1)
 24. Vessel according to claim 13, wherein in use, the at least one divisible spud (7, 8) extends towards the bottom from below the excavating device (3).
 25. Vessel according to claim 16, wherein the spud (7) has a rectangular or square cross section, the respective flanges (14, 15) and clamping (12, 13) members being arranged on the four sides of the rectangle or square. 